Peter Obi, a former candidate for president and a member of the National Democratic Congress, has emphasized the urgent need for national reforms in Nigeria. He believes the country should function effectively for all its citizens through responsible governance, job opportunities, and trustworthy elections. Obi expressed these views at an NDC aspirants’ dinner that took place in Abuja, which was shared by TV Platinum on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
While speaking to party members and supporters at the event, Obi encouraged Nigerians to focus on building the nation and taking shared responsibility. He pointed out that the nation’s existing issues necessitate significant changes. “Let’s build a nation together. Let’s create a place where Nigerians can feel they belong,” he stated.
Referencing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Obi compared the agricultural support offered by Ukraine to Nigeria, despite the war. “I’ve mentioned this before, and I will keep saying it. Ukraine is in a war. Ukraine has provided Nigeria with grain to combat hunger,” Obi said. “Ukraine provided us grain to help with hunger, even while at war,” he repeated.
Obi further drew a parallel between Ukraine’s land size and that of Northern Nigeria, asserting that Nigeria has enough land and capability to solve its food and economic issues on its own.
“The total area of Ukraine is around 600,000 square kilometers, while Northern Nigeria covers 760,000 square kilometers,” he explained. “Northern Nigeria is at least 25% larger than Ukraine. Yet, they provided us grain despite their ongoing war,” he added.
Obi pointed out that this situation underscores the necessity for Nigeria to reassess its governmental framework and economic focus. “These are practices we must abandon. We need to transform this country because it has become corrupt,” he said. “This nation must function for all its citizens. It must create jobs for every Nigerian,” Obi continued.
He also commended the youth of Nigeria, describing them as dynamic and capable of facilitating national change through their active involvement in politics. “The youth of Nigeria are full of energy. We will campaign. We will reach out to everyone and actively engage in campaigning,” he noted.
Obi further remarked that candidates aiming for leadership roles in the upcoming elections need to provide valid reasons to gain public backing instead of depending on political power or manipulation. “For those aspiring to lead Nigeria for the next four years, they must present reasons for us to support them,” he stated.
He strongly advocated for electoral integrity, asserting that the public will no longer tolerate rigged results. “It will no longer be acceptable to let threats dictate election outcomes. This time, our votes will be counted,” Obi declared. “Our votes will matter. If they do not tally the votes, we will hold them accountable,” he added.
Obi finished by encouraging Nigerians to refuse to view bad governance as acceptable, emphasizing that the public needs to hold political leaders accountable. “We cannot continue in this way. We have our nation. This nation has to function. These individuals can no longer assume we will tolerate them,” he stated.